FINALLY!

Posting 2 days in a row! That hasn't happened in a while! I had 2 SUPER great workouts this morning that I just had to talk about. I am working evenings this week so I don't get to bed until at least midnight, usually between 12:30 and 12:45 am. I don't like it but there's just absolutely no avoiding it since I don't make it home from work until right before midnight.

For some reason, I couldn't sleep last night. I was bad this weekend and stayed in bed far too late (think: sleeping in like in the college days) and I think it just really messed me up. I was tired, I took melatonin, it just didn't happen. So I slept in AGAIN this morning but finally had to force myself up because I had 2 hours of workouts to do before work. Normally on days like this, workouts sucks. I don't like morning workouts and I especially don't like morning workouts when I'm tired and it's cold out.

I pushed my grumpiness and desire to go back to bed aside, ate a bagel, and went to the gym for a swim. I had a warmup, 3x500, and a cooldown totaling 3000 yds. It felt great. I felt like I was swimming effortlessly which doesn't happen a lot for me. Usually I feel like I am really working in the water. It's a nice feeling to feel so natural! Also, even though the temperature was hovering right at freezing, it was really sunny out and the sun just made me feel so happy! I was actually excited to go for my hour run, blow off some stress, and listen to some sweet tunes!

I am soooo glad that my runs are getting kicked up a notch. I had those few months off and then it's been slow trying to get my shit back together, but now I am seeing 1 hour runs on Tuesday and Thursday with a shorter run on Wednesday, plus weekend runs. I think a higher frequency of running really helps me and works well with my body since my history = runner. It has been really difficult seeing my pace in the 9-10 min/mile range even for short 30 minute runs.

What makes me even happier is that my hour run this morning was at 8:46 pace! I know, no speed demon here, but it was definitely a good run! It is AWESOME that I felt sooo good at an hour run AND that I could hold a decent pace - that I wasn't forcing my body to try to recover and gain fitness faster than it was able to. Another tribute to Coach Mary here because she KNEW how frustrated I was and how much I was bitching about not running, asking teammates how much they were running, comparing myself to other athletes and she made me wait.

Things seem to be coming together! Kim and I are riding our bikes outside on Saturday come hell or high water (or snow, or hail, or sleet). And I am on strict instruction to up my long ride to 6 hours the minute it hits 50 degrees outside! I am getting a little anxious about this because....................

only 12.5 weeks until Ironman Coeur D'Alene!

As a special added bonus for my blog readers, here is a video that I finally shot of my apartment. I actually cleaned before I did this (except the counter - I did not clean that!). If you really want to see how dorky I am, just watch it and you will be enlightened..